6.021/Notes/2006-09-06

Administrative

• Recitation @ noon cancelled
• MIT press has not printed enough textbooks
  • Get copies from Janice 36-825 with ID
  • Janice is only in on Tuesdays/Thursdays

Notes

• Engineering approach to studying basic physical processes that underlie how cells work
• Interdisciplinary
  • Assumed pre-reqs: math, engineering, physics
  • Not assumed: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry
• Cell membranes
  • Focus of class
  • Keeps stuff in and out and lets stuff in and out
  • Like a castle: has walls but also gates
  • Transport of water, ions, nutrients, waste, signals, building blocks, products
• Eukaryotes
  • Environment is maintained by body
• Example: Digestive system
  • Lots of skin folded up in small intestines
  • All nutrients need to pass through skin
  • More membrane -> more nutrient flow
  • Epithelial cells in intestines are very tightly connected so nutrients have to flow through cells
  • Example of coupling sodium transport with glucose